Clamp means for laundry press



March 12, 1963 E. N. NECK-EL ETAL 3,030,667

CLAMP MEANS FOR LAUNDRY PRESS Filed May 2. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TORS A I'TOENE YS March 12, 1963 E. N. NECKEL ETAL 3,080,667

CLAMP MEANS FOR LAUNDRY PRESS Filed May 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ 0Mu-0 N Nae/ 54. BY 202527 J [YGAB/EOAD A r roeA/EVS March 1963 E. N. NECKEL ETAL 3,

cum? MEANS FOR LAUNDRY PRESS ill INVENTORS [DMUND M A/ECKEL BY Foes/er Era/152040 March 12, 1963 E. N. NECKEL ETAL 3,030,657

cum? mums FOR LAUNDRY PRESS Filed May 2. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3,080,667 CLAMP MEANS FOR LAUNDRY PRESS Edmund N. Neckel, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Robert J. Eygabroad, Rochester, N.Y., assignors to McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 2, 1961, Ser. No. 107,121 11 Claims. (CI. 38-12) The invention relates to clamp means for a laundry press, and more particularly to neckband and tail clamps for a shirt press, and controlled operating means therefor. The inventive concept is particularly adapted to a laundry press of the so-called scissors type wherein one of the pressing members is carried on a lever arm which is hinged for swinging movement of a pressing member towards operative contact with another pressing member.

When a press of this type is used to finish laundered shirts, one conventional design has a fixed bed or buck and a movable head carried on a pivoted head lever for movement towards and away from the buck. With the two cooperating pressing parts separated, the neckband is dressed around a collar block and temporarily held by a collar clamp while the shirt is being dressed on the buck. The shirt tail is thenheld by a tail clamp. The pressing head can now be lowered to pressing position whereupon the several clamps have served their purpose and may be automatically released at suitable times as will appear. They may also be released manually.

I An object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved means establishing automatic cooperation between the press operating power means and the neckband and tail clamps.

'- 'A further object of the invention is to provide press operating means as described in the last preceding paragraph wherein the neckband clamp is automatically released when the press head closes to working position.

A further object of the invention is to provide press operating means as defined in the last two preceding paragraphs wherein the tail clamp is automatically released when the press head opening means is energized to raise the head. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a study of the following description of one embodiment of the invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a shirt press equipped with clamping means in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view as viewed from the left side of FIG. 1, showing at the left the neckband clamp and at the right the tail clamp.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view, somewhat enlarged, showing operating parts of the neckband clamp.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the parts in a somewhat different working position.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the neckband clamp operating structure as seen from above FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the tail clamp as seen on the right of FIG. 2 but on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the air controls and their application to the power motors for moving the various operating parts of the press.

In the drawings operating elements such as valves and the like are conventionally shown for simplicity in following the description of the press operation although in an actual commercial embodiment such elements are usually more elaborate in design. A press of the general type here shown (but without the combined operation of the neckband clamp and tail clamp) is shown in United Patented Mar. 12, 1963 States Patent No. 2,948,071 granted August 9, 1960, to Edmund N. Neckel and Leo B. Wessel.

Briefly, and referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the press comprises a base or frame 10 with fixed padded buck 11, and a head lever 12 pivotally mounted at 13, carrying a pressing head 14. When unoperated, the head lever is held in open position by one or more springs 15. To close the press, air is first admitted to the lower end of air cylinder motor 16, and, upon close approach of the head to the buck, air is automatically admitted to the air-hydraulic power unit 17 as will hereinafter appear, the connecting pivot point 18 having crossed over to the other side of a line between head lever pivot 13 and support pivot 19 of the power unit 17.

Referring now first to the neckband clamp (FIGS. 3-5) it is mounted in a frame 20, fastened at its lower end to a support or bracket 21 secured to the press frame. The clamp proper is a sheet metal member 22, arcuately formed to cooperate with a collar block 23 for holding the collar or neckband snugly while a shirt 24 is stretched out smoothly on the buck by the operator. The clamp member is secured to an arm 25 extending from a yoke member 26. The latter is pivotally mounted at 27 on what can be termed a carrier member 28. This comprises an upper hub portion 28a freely journaled on operating shaft 29, depending leg portions 28b to which yoke 26 is pivoted, legs 28c extending back therefrom, arms 28d and 28e extending forward and back respectively from the hub portion, a finger or tab 28f extending forward from the hub, and finger 28g extending forward from one of the depending legs 2817. All of these are integral parts of one casting. A tab 26a on one leg of yoke member 26 extends out in alignment with fingers 28f, 28g. Tab 26a normally rests against finger 28g, being yieldingly held thus by a compression spring 30 between it and upper finger 28f.

Although the carrier 28 is, as mentioned, freely fitted on operating shaft 29, it normally is movable therewith. A pin 31 secured in the shaft extends through aslot 2811 in the carrier hub, and a tension spring 32 between the pin and a stud 33 on hub finger 28d holds the pin in engagement with the front end of the slot.

An air cylinder motor 34 effective on the neckband clamp is pivotally mounted at 35 on a bracket extension Zita of the frame, and an end piece 34a on the piston rod fits between and is pivotally connected to the carrier legs 280 at 36. Air for cylinder 34 is controlled by a valve 37 supported on another frame bracket, 20b. This is operatable by an actuator or plunger member 38 carried by one arm of a bellcrank 39. The bellcrank is pivotally mounted at 40 in the frame, and carries a roller 4-1 on the shorter arm. The roller is contactable by a cam lever 42 secured on operating shaft 29 between the carrier hub and bearing hub 2490 of the frame, whereby to rock the bellcrank and operate the valve when the clamp has been swung down close to clamping position.

A tension spring 43 connected between a stud 44 on the frame and a stud 45 on carrier arm 28: normally holds the neckband clamp assembly swung up in the vertical position, FIGURE 2, a lug 26b on the clamp bar yoke resting against a frame bumper 46. The press being open, a shirt is arranged on the buck with the collar upturned around block 23. The operator then swings the clamp down by means of handle 47. When the clamp reaches a position about as shown in FIGURE 3, the cam lever 42 will have come around into engagement with roller 41. Continued movement of handle 47 rocks the bellcrank, so that by the time the clamp makes contact, the valve will be operated and cylinder 34 energized. The final clamping operation then is accomplished by the power of air cylinder 34. Since this actual clamping is the only part that requires any degree of force, the

entire operation entails only a slight effort by the operator. The arcuate clamp member 22 contacts the shirt on the buck a short distance in front of the collar, so as to avoid hitting the collar. Further clockwise swinging of the carrier 28 then has the effect of sliding the clamp back against the collar, FIGURE 4. The accompanying small degree of rotation of carrier 28 relative to the clamp bar yoke during this final movement compresses spring 30 between carrier finger 281 and the yoke tab 26a, the

lower carrier finger 28gmoving out of contact with the the only resistance to movement of the handle being the tension of spring 32. The cam 42 thereby disengages .from roller 41 on the bellcrank, allowing the valve 87 to release and cut off the air to cylinder 34. Spring 43 thereupon returns to clamp to open position.

.An incidental advantage resides in the-positional relationship of the cylinder 34 to the axis 29 of the clamp assembly. This is shown in FIGURE 8, wherein the parts in question are indicated in the clamp-open position.

There is notmuch likelihood that the air valve would be operated by an accidental bump, the parts being more or less protected by the hooded portion of the frame. If this should happen, energization of the air cylinder would not close the clamp, since pivot point 36 is on the wrong side of the center line from pivot 29 to pivot 35, and would tend to move the clamp in opening direction. The same arrangement is used in the press head operating means, as more fully discussed in the aforementioned US. Patent No. 2,948,071.

Referring now to the tail clamp, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the clamp proper is a flexible band 48 arranged to be brought down upon the shirt tail portion on the buck, whereby the shirt may be stretched out smoothly by the operator and held in that condition by the clamp. The arcuate band is caried by a bowed member 49, which is mounted at the end of a support lever 56. The latter is bifurcated at the other end and pivotally mounted at 51 on a supporting arm bracket 52 secured to the press frame. A tension spring 53 is connected to a stud 54 on the bracket and a stud 55 on a short arm 50a of lever 50. This spring is in over-center relation to pivot 51. Thus, when the operator, using handle 56, swings the clamp into position, the press table 57 having a slot 57a, the spring supplies the clamping force. Then, when the clamp is returned to open positioneither manually, or automatically, to be later explainedthe spring holds it open, a bumper pad 58 on lever 50 pressing against the stem of a valve 59 carried in the end section of bracket 52.

An air cylinder motor 60 is pivotally mounted on a lower ear 52a of the bracket, and has its piston rod pivotally connected at 61 to lever 56. The motor is used only to automatically release the clamp when the press opens.

With the press and clamps in open, idle position, FIG- URES 1 and 2, the air control elements will be as shown in the diagram, FIGURE 8. Cylinders 16, 34 and 60 are unenergized. The ram piston 17a of the power unit 17 is in retracted position, held there by air pressure from the top, coming by way of air line 62, slide or spool valve 63, and line 64 from a supply source. The other side of the piston is in communication with the atmosphere, i.e. vented, through line 65 and valve exhaust port 63a.

The power unit is actually an air-hydraulic motor, which is shown and described in great detail in the aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 2,948,071, but it is sufficient for the present description to merely show the air supply piping (FIG. 8, lower left) since the operation is quite clear even in this simplified showing.

Valve 37 is closed, but supplied with air pressure through line 64 and pipe 66. The operator dresses a shirt on the buck and operates the neck clamp as previously described, valve 37 being thereby opened, admitting air to clamp motor 34 by way of line 67. The tail clamp is then swung to clamping position by the operator. This permits normally closed bleeder or exhaust valve 59 to close, although with no effect, there beingno air on the valve at this time.

The operator now closes the press by operating push button valves 68, 69, which embody a two-hand safety control. Air pressure on valve 63 is by way of lines 70, 71 and 64 from the source. Air now goes from this valve through line 72, valve 69 and line 73 to a diaphragm 74. This opens valve 75, supplying air through line 76 to motor 16, which swings the press head towards closed position. As the press head nears the buck, the piston of motor 16 passes a side port 16a. This sends air through line 77 to the right end of valve 63, shifting the valve plunger assembly to the other end. Supply air now goes from the valve 63 through line 65 to the bottom of the ram cylinder of power unit 17. At the same time, the top of the cylinder is vented through line 62 and valve exhaust port 630. This shifting of the valve also cuts off air to clamp motor 34 and vents it, permitting the neckband clamp to return to open position. The cutout 14a in the pressing chest fits closely around but does not interfere with the clamp.

The press may be opened either by pushbutton valve 78 or valve 79 controlled by foot treadle 80 (FIG. 1). First considering valve 78, air pressure is present by way of lines 71 and 64 from the source. Operation of the valve sends air through line 81 to so-called directional valve 82. The shiftable member 82a is already at the opposite end, closing the right end inlet, and air goes through the valve and line 83 to the left end of slide valve 63. This shifts the plunger member back to the position shown in FIG. 8, whereby the pressure unit ram piston 17a is retracted, allowing the press to be opened by its springs 15, motor 16 being deenergized from the time the operator released the pushbutton valves 68, 69 when the press sealed under pressure.

Air has also gone from the directional valve to and through a check valve 84, and line 85 to diaphragm 86. Continuing through line 87, it is stopped at valve 59, which is in normally closed position. The diaphragm 86 operates valve 88, and air from its source, through line 64, 71, 70, 89, 90, and needle valve 91, is admitted by way of line 92 to cylinder 60. This opens the tail clamp, the movement being retarded by reason of the throttled air flow, so as to lag slightly behind the opening of the press head. The operation of the release pushbutton valve 78 may be only momentary. Air is trapped, unable to vent back due to the seating of the check member, ball 84a, so diaphragm 86 remains operated. Then, when the tail clamp reaches open position, it contacts and opens exhaust valve 59, releasing the trapped air and removing pressure from diaphragm 86, and valve 88 closes, deenergizing cylinder 60.

If the foot treadle release is used, air for the release valve 79 is from line 93, valve 63 (the valve plunger being at the left end), line 64 and source. Air is then admitted through line 94, another directional valve 95 and line 96 to directional valve 82. If the shiftable member 82a happens to be at the right, as shown, the air blows it over to the left end. From this point the operation is the same as traced in the last preceding paragraph. It might be noticed that when the air now operates valve 63 to the position shown, it thereby cuts itself off, but, as noted above, only a momentary supply of air is needed for diaphragm 86.

A timer is sometimes employed to control the duration of the pressing operation. In that case, the air for energizing the power unit 17 will also be sent, as by line 97, to energize the timer. Thereafter, at the expiration of the pre-set period, the timer will cause air to be sent to the right hand inlet 95a of directional valve 95, to release the press and tail clamp in the manner already explained.

Pushbutton valve 98 is a so-called tandem release valve, conventionally provided to remotely open another press, the valve outlet 98a being connected to the release system of that press; for instance, to a directional valve such as 95.

What is claimed is:

1. A laundry press of the character described having a frame, a first pressing member fixed on said frame, a second pressing member movable towards and away from said first pressing member, a first fluid power motor operatively associated with said movable pressing member to effect movement thereof, clamping means for holding a portion of a garment on said fixed pressing member during arrangement of the garment while said pressing members are separated in idle position, a second fluid power motor operatively associated with said clamping means whereby, when actuated, to eflect movement of said clamping means, and means eflective on said second fluid power motor, and responsive to actuation of said first fluid power motor, for releasing said clamping means upon movement of said fluid power means in one direction.

2. A laundry press of the character described having a frame, a first pressing member fixed on said frame, a second pressing member movable towards and away from said first pressing member, a first fluid power motor operatively associated with said movable pressing member to operate said movable pressing member, a neckband clamp for holding the neckband portion of a garment on said fixed pressing member during arrangement of the garment prior to pressing engagement of the members, a second fluid power motor eflective, when energized to apply holding pressure to said neckband clamp, and means responsive to application of press-closing powor to said first fluid power motor for deenergizing said second fluid power motor whereby to release said neckband clamp.

3. A laundry press as defined in claim 2 wherein spring means is provided, effective on said neckband clamp, and disposed to maintain clamp-releasing bias on said clamp.

4. A laundry press as defined in claim 2 including manually movable means for initiating application of said neckband clamp to said garment, and means responsive to operation of said manually movable means for transmitting fluid power to said second fluid power motor whereby to apply final operating pressure to said neckband clamp.

5. A laundry press as defined in claim 4 wherein reverse movement of said manually movable means releases said neckband clamp.

6. A laundry press of the character described having a frame, a first pressing member fixed on said frame, a second pressing member movable towards and away from said first pressing member, a first fluid power motor operatively associated with said movable pressing member to operate said second pressing member, a tail clamp for holding the tail portion of a garment on said fixed pressing member, means for moving said tail clamp to clamping position, a second fluid power motor effective, when energized to release said tail clamp, and means in fluid flow relationship with said first fluid power motor for energizing said second fluid power motor whereby to release said tail clamp.

7. A laundry press as defined in claim 6 wherein vent means is provided which, when operated, is eflective to vent fluid power from said second fluid power motor, and wherein said vent means is disposed to be operated by movement of said tail clamp to open position.

8. A laundry press of the character described having a frame, a first pressing member fixed on said frame, a second pressing member movable towards and away from said first pressing member, a first fluid power motor operatively associated with said movable pressing member to operate said second pressing member, a neckband clamp for holding the neckband portion of a garment on said fixed pressing member during arrangement of the garment prior to pressing engagement of the members, a second fluid power motor effective, when energized, to apply holding pressure to said neckband clamp, means responsive to application of press-closing power to said first fluid power motor for deenergizing said second fluid power motor whereby to release said neckband clamp, a tail clamp for holding the tail portion of the garment on said fixed pressing member, a third fluid power motor effective, when energized, to release said tail clamp, and means in fluid flow relationship with said first fluid power motor for energizing said third fluid power motor whereby to release said tail clamp.

9. A laundry press as defined in claim 8 wherein vent means is provided which, when operated, vents fluid power from said third fluid power motor, and wherein said vent means is disposed to be operated by operative contact with said tail clamp during its movement to open position.

10. -A laundry press as defined in claim 8 wherein spring means is provided, effective on said neckband clamp, and disposed to maintain clamp-releasing bias on said clamp.

11. "A laundry press as defined in claim 8 including manually movable means for initiating movement of said neckband clamp to clamping position, and means responsive to progressive movement of said manually movable means for transmitting fluid power to said second fluid power motor whereby to apply final operating pressure to said neckband clamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,934,172 Davis Nov. 7, 1933 2,302,975 Sherman Nov. 24, 1942 2,809,451 Campbell et al. Oct. 15, 1957 

1. A LAUNDRY PRESS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED HAVING A FRAME, A FIRST PRESSING MEMBER FIXED ON SAID FRAME, A SECOND PRESSING MEMBER MOVABLE TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST PRESSING MEMBER, A FIRST FLUID POWER MOTOR OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MOVABLE PRESSING MEMBER TO EFFECT MOVEMENT THEREOF, CLAMPING MEANS FOR HOLDING A PORTION OF A GARMENT ON SAID FIXED PRESSING MEMBER DURING ARRANGEMENT OF THE GARMENT WHILE SAID PRESSING MEMBERS ARE SEPARATED IN IDLE POSITION, A SECOND FLUID POWER MOTOR OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CLAMPING MEANS WHEREBY, WHEN ACTUATED, TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID 